Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-06-03
WASHINGTON LETTER,
tFrom our Regular Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON. NAV Both. 1887.


Ere this shall reach YOU the National
Drill will be thing Of the past. The com
pelive drills closed on Saturday but the
Encampnent does not break up until this
evening, and no one but the Judges knows
as yet who will bear the prizes away, ex'
cept in one instance, where a private o.
the San Antonio Rifles won the first priz'
given TO individual contestants, of the in
fantry drih.
The Judges of the drill, who are expert
enced army officers selected Ivy Genera
Sheridan, at the request oil the managing
committee, on account of their fitness fol
the task made up their finding yesterday
and bandedriem over TO the Drill COM
mitiee in sealed envelopes. This morning
they were given 10 Gen. Sheridan who
will open them at three o'clock this alter
noon on stand IN the Drill ground II
the presence of all the troops, aud presen
them TO the successful competitors.
or course there will be some dlsappoint'
ments, hut the judges have had very dill
6cull and delicate duty to perform. Th'
miiti. organizations which participated
in this competition are among the best 1t
the country, aud where many are excellent
the task OF deciding between them is very
hard. Where one was perfect another
was defective, and vice versa. OF ont
thing the soldiers may be quite certain
aud that is that the judges will not rst
them as did the audience always for errors
| of the manual which were invisible from
the grand stand were from the judge
standpoint, gross mist axes, and their de
cislons will have 10 be accepted withou
question.
In the gossip Of the camp the prizel
have been distributed among the Toledo
Cadets, the Lomax Rifles, of Mobile, thu
San Antonia companies, the 81. Pau
companies, the Muscatine Rifles, Of Iowa
the Louisiana Rifles, the Vicksburg South
rons. and Two Washington companies
Each has warm partisan admirers, who
expect one of the higher infantry prize
for their favorite organization, and on
hears eXtolled The merit Of this company
and criticism OF the performances of al
the others on every hand. Undoubtedl.
there were technical faults in the maneu'
vers OF the most accomplished companie
which were not discernable TO the public
but rs mentioned before, no one knows
al this writing, the judges decisions, ant
as you will know the result, probably be
tore you read this letter, any forecast o
the awards would be useless.
Altogether the visiting military hsv,
had delightful week, and it Is safe Il
say the Drill has been one of the mos
successful ever held in this country. Their
have been vicissitudes in the weather, Il
be sure, but naturally these are the &C
compartments Of camp life; Rain Il
well as sunshine, cold as well us heat
winds and thunder and lightning were al
necessary TO give service in the field il
proper relish. The cyclone that swep
over the tented city was little more thai
the soldiers or the managers Of the Drill
had expected, but The latter ssy the Drill
will not be financial failure, although
they were greatly damaged by the storms
Yesterday was Sunday, and according
to agreement, Rev. I. Dewitt Talmag
preached at the Drill ground from liltl
awning canopied pavilion in front OF III
grand stand. But 10 my surprise at first
the military, all except few hundred
were conspicuous by their absence. ID
not imagine that Mr.. Talmsge fell shor
of an audience in consequence. He wa
greeted by congregation OF fifteen lhous
and strong. About seven thousand fv
hundred people paid quarter to get in
side the enclosure and sit or stand any
where within sound of his voice, and full
as many more paid fifty cents for chai
on the grand stand.
While the sermon was in progress n,
soldiers were over at the camp groun
fixing up for the dress parade which WA
to take place at its close. In due tim
they marched INTO the Drill ground to th
music Of their different bands, and durin
the whole week more effective scene WI
not witnessed than this last dress parad
The troops were massed in battalion
across the entire green swRrd, and yer
skilllully placed MS regarded their varlo,
colored uniforms. Many Of the uniform
were striking, others brilliant and eve
gorgeous, and ali contrasted we'll with III
prevailing green OF the parade groun,
The Marine Band OF forty men in brIgl
red coats, white helmets and white pant
furnished the martial music and marche
from one end TO the other OF the froI
, while they were playing as is usual u
dress parades. The Generals and 9th,
officers, IN full dress uniforms, stood
their proper places and altogether III
, picture WAS imposing, When the Ger,
monies OF the parade were over and ii
troops were preparing TO leave the groun,
3 their movements presented brilliai
spectacle which will long be rememb bere
by those who witnessed il. The day wa
perfect, bayonets flashed IN the sunshin
. banners and plumes waved, bright colo,
glowed everywhere, aud To heighten III
! elect OF the scene, one soldier, overcom
| by the heat, fell fainting on the HrouD,
and was carried from the field by com
, Indes.
'-. -
DON'T Exnerimenk